Aug. 2, 2017
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
BC Wildfire Service
INFORMATION BULLETIN
Wildfires and road closures in Southeast Fire Centre
CASTLEGAR – The BC Wildfire Service has implemented three forest service road closures in the Southeast Fire Centre to help protect public safety and aid in wildfire suppression activities.
Wildfires that are currently burning in the region include:
Harrop Creek wildfire
* The Harrop Creek wildfire is about 10 kilometres south of the communities of Harrop and Procter. As of the morning of Aug. 2, 2017, it covered about 1,000 hectares.
* Twenty-two BC Wildfire Service personnel are continuing to build fire guards today with the support of heavy equipment and aircraft.
* Columns of smoke from this fire will be visible in nearby communities today as pockets of forest fuels burn.
* The Harrop Mainline Forest Service Road and the East Harrop Mainline Forest Service Road are now closed to the public to help protect public safety and aid fire suppression efforts. A map indicating the area affected by this road closure is available online at: http://ow.ly/P1zr30e7hcd
Glacier Creek wildfire
* The Glacier Creek wildfire is about 25 kilometres northeast of Meadow Creek and about 18 kilometres east of Duncan Lake. As of the morning of Aug. 2, 2017, it covered about 400 hectares.
* A road closure has been implemented on the Duncan-Glacier Creek Forest Service Road, starting at the MacBeth Icefields turnoff at the 19-kilometre mark. A map indicating the area affected by this road closure is available online at: http://ow.ly/ccaN30e3NZz
* There is currently no access to the Jumbo area or Monica Meadows. However, backcountry travellers can still access the MacBeth Icefields at this time.
White River wildfire
* The White River wildfire is about 47 kilometres northeast of Canal Flats. As of the morning of Aug. 2, 2017, it covered about 500 hectares.
* This fire is being closely monitored by BC Wildfire Service personnel.
* A road closure has been implemented on the White-Middle Fork Forest Service Road beginning at the 45.5-kilometre mark. A map indicating the area affected by this road closure is available online at: http://ow.ly/lpLc30e7jz3
Island Pond wildfire
* The 1,150-hectare Island Pond fire that started on July 30 is about 17 kilometres southeast of Canal Flats.
* As of the morning of Aug. 2, 2017, helicopters, airtankers, skimmers and heavy equipment are supporting 64 firefighting personnel on the ground. Crews are taking advantage of a change in wind direction today to build more fire guards.
Fire activity and fire behaviour can change quickly, so members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and be extremely careful with any activity that could potentially spark a new wildfire.
The Southeast Fire Centre extends from the U.S. border in the south to the Mica Dam in the north and from the Okanagan Highlands and Monashee Mountains in the west to the B.C.-Alberta border in the east. The Southeast Fire Centre includes the Selkirk Natural Resource District and the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District.
To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call *5555 on a cellphone or 1 800 663-5555 toll-free. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit: www.bcwildfire.ca
UPDATED INFORMATION FROM BC WILDFIRE SERVICE GO TO WILDFIRE BC.